November 1998 Birthdays

We celebrated three birthdays over the weekend of November
14 to 16: My Dad's (12th), mine (16th) and my Mom's (12+16=28th) with the
Northern
California Patterson Clan, whose numbers are growing in strength. Gracie
brings the total size of the USA-wide Patterson family to 22!

The birthday weekend included watching Cal football, playing
soccer, and lots of meals.

Sunday started with breakfast
at Inn Kensignton, which is located
in Kensington (a pun). Linda and I always expect to see a Star
Trek food replicator in the back some day, because the food always arrives
before we expect it. We go there enough that we all know each others names
and food preferences.

Gracie was generally quiet and a delightful little bundle
to hold. For example,

Later we went to a late lunch at Yoshi's
in Jack London Square.
Its been serving great Japanese food and jazz performances for 25 years.
We took off our shoes in the traditional Japanese tatami seating, which
meant our feet dangled in holes under a table on a raised floor. This was
perfect for setting down Gracie between two adults. It also gave Andrew
a head start whenever he decided to take off, as it took a while for adults
to get up to chase him.

Andrew came back with enough food on him and his handlers
that he and his Dad needed to take a bath.
Fortunately, Andrew cleans up well.

Monday night we went to Casa Orinda, located over the hill
in Orinda. This place
has been serving good American and Italian food since the 1930s, when there
were mostly ranches near Orinda. The tables are branded using branding
irons from the former (and some current) ranches in the area, and lots
of guns and cowboy paintings on the wall.